Chapter Twenty-Three: A Small Reprieve.
A gentle weight around her waist as the first sensation that Ruby became aware of as she slowly returned to consciousness, then the sweet smells of vanilla and mint drifted into her nose. Slowly opening her eyes the wolf was greeted by the sight of the white haired beauty still asleep.
Ruby took in the relaxed features of the Heiress, normally when Weiss was awake her face was schooled into a neutral mask of indifference only showing small flickers of emotions when she was with Ruby or in the dorm with just her team. Ruby's eyes lingered on her partner's lips; the soft pink pillow glistened with a light sheen of moisture making the wolf want to press her own lips against them but she knew it would wake Weiss up and she didn't want to do that just yet.
Instead Ruby nuzzled in closer pressing her wolf ear against the Heiress' chest and listened to the steady beat of her heart. Closing her eyes Ruby focused on the sound and let her breathing match her partner's. Slowly the wolf's mind began to drift off again, her tail wrapping around their legs. Taking a deep breath the wolf savored the scents that clung to Weiss' skin making her nuzzle in closer shifting the girl back slightly.
Weiss slowly came back to the world feeling an unfamiliar weight pressing into her chest. The Heiress' first reflex was to pull away only for a soft mumble to stop her, glancing down she spotted the tuffs of dark crimson hair of her wolf nestled in to her chest. She could feel the breath of the girl tickle her skin through her nightgown. A light flick of the wolf's ear to the Heiress chin made her shiver as the velvety softness tickled her. Weiss became acutely aware of how close they were pressed together as Ruby shifted slightly causing her chest to press in closer. Taking a deep breath the Heiress fought the blush that was creeping into her cheeks.
This was normal, she kept telling herself, as their relationship grew they would of course grow closer together and eventually become more intimate. Settling her mind Weiss allowed herself to enjoy the warmth that was radiating from the girl in her arms as well as the scent of roses that always clung to her wolf. She still wasn't bother to wonder when she had started to refer to Ruby as 'her wolf' but to her it didn't matter, she would do anything now to make sure that Ruby was safe and happy.
The silky brush of Ruby's tail ran up Weiss leg pushing her nightgown up as it went causing Weiss to fight the blush that was creeping up her face again. When the tail went back down it causing a tingle to race through the Heiress core, heat began to build between her legs. Weiss had to resist the urge to shift as she didn't want to wake Ruby. With every brush of the tail against her bare skin the tingling grew stronger and Weiss was trying her hardest to not rub her legs together.
Ruby shifted slightly causing her lips to brush across Weiss exposed collar only to rest there. The heat that was building up in Weiss was slowly becoming unbearable as Ruby nuzzled in closer pressing her lips into her skin. It felt as if her skin ignited from the feeling of her wolf's lips against her neck. Suddenly Ruby's teeth nipped at her neck, it was too much for the Heiress a jolt of heat burst through her body causing a soft moan to escape her lips. She tried to muffle her moan but failed miserably, the sound caused Ruby to shift her sleep, ears perking slightly.
Ruby blinked awake again and took a few sniffs of the air, she crinkled her nose at the strange scent that was permeating the air around her now. The wolf had never smelled something like it before; it was a sweet tangy smell but was mixed with a husky musk scent. This new smell mixed with Weiss' normal scents of vanilla and mint caused the wolf's heart to beat slightly faster, her tail swishing underneath the sheets in excitement.
She felt Weiss flinch slightly, which caused her to look up at the Heiress with a questioning look. Her eyes were closed and her lips were clamped shut and her breathing was coming slightly erratically. Ruby could hear the Heiress heart beat increase slightly from the steady beat that she had earlier. "Weiss?" Ruby asked trying to figure out what was wrong with her partner. Weiss' eyes snapped open at her voice, ice blue eyes looking slightly unfocused. The Heiress' breathing hitched slight as she glanced down to look at the wolf and blush erupted on her cheeks. "Is everything alright?"
Weiss nodded before adjusting slightly, "Yes." Her voice sounded a bit breathier than normal making her stop and clear her throat. "Yes, everything is fine Ruby. Did you sleep well?" The Heiress shifted some more so that she was now siting up in the bed.
Ruby nodded as she curled in to her partner's side, "Yeah, how about you?" Ruby noticed that the odd scent was now slightly stronger in her current position but still couldn't put her finger on what it was.
Weiss nodded as she shifted some of Ruby's hair to the side and off her face, "I also slept well. Now if we want to get breakfast before heading over to the infirmary you should go get a shower, I'll take one after you." Ruby smiled before bouncing quickly up in the bed and straddling the Heiress lap capturing lips in a brief kiss before disappearing in puff of rose petals. Weiss felt the blush erupt on her face again as she shook her head.
Her heart fluttered as the rose petals dissolved around her leaving their lingering scent in the air. Shifting her legs caused the blush increase as she felt the moisture that had gathered in her panties. She couldn't believe that Ruby had such an effect on her already, and the wolf hadn't even done anything really. It was just her tail brushing up against bare leg and a small nibble on the neck. Yes Ruby's soft silky tail had felt extremely pleasant against her skin and yes that nibble had been in a sensitive area but it should have in no way caused her to react the way it did.
But yet here she was feeling extremely flustered at just that minimal contact. Shaking her head Weiss tried to clear her thought of the wolf only to hear the sound of the shower start up. Suddenly the Heiress mind was filled with images of Ruby as she stood under the water, her dark crimson locks dripping and sticking to the side of her face, drops of water cascading down her pale skin caressing her curves as they went. She could picture the steam rising up around her wolf as she applied the soap to her hair and tail the bubbles sticking to her skin in places as she lathered them into thick suds.
Weiss knew her breathing had once again become erratic as her hand slowly slipped down her own body making it feel like fire was following her hands. She could picture herself walking into the bathroom as Ruby remained unaware in the shower then slowly slipping off her nightgown and…
Weiss snapped her eyes open and quickly pulled her hands away from her center taking deep even breaths trying to get her emotions under control. Her heart hammered in her chest as she shook her head trying to clear the pictures from her mind. Now was not the time to entertain those thought, especially with how new their relationship was. While she knew it was a normal reaction to be aroused by someone that caused intense feelings but it had never happened to her before. Normally if she was aroused the Heiress could find her release by just enjoying the sensations, the feelings had never once been caused by someone else nor had she ever actually pictured herself with someone either.
If she knew that she was going to be alone for some time and could properly air out the room she might have actually entertained the ideas that her mind had conjured but not knowing how long Ruby was going to take in the shower made her unwilling to try it. Since coming to Beacon if such things arouse and she wasn't going to be alone in the dorm she took a bath and took care of it then, especially after Blake had made a comment to Yang after the blonde had been left alone in the dorm for a few hours. While Weiss couldn't smell anything apparently the panther Faunus…
Weiss groaned as she slapped her hand to her face, Ruby was a wolf Faunus and had an extremely good sense of smell. And since she had gotten aroused with the wolf in her arms she knew Ruby had to have smelled it. Weiss couldn't help but blush again in embarrassment. She was the Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, a name that caused people to quake with fear, granted she planed on changing that once she had control of the company but she should not be acting so embarrassed at the thought of Ruby knowing she had been aroused but yet here she was sitting her in bed blushing like a pubescent teen that had just been caught. Shaking her head again Weiss pushed down the blush, she was going to face this like an Heiress and if Ruby brought it up then she would explain, she just really hoped her wolf didn't bring it up.
Weiss had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't heard the shower shut off nor did she hear the muffled huff of annoyance from the wolf as she realized she had forgotten fresh clothes in the other room. Wrapping a towel tightly around her body Ruby exited the bathroom only to pause at the sharp intake of breath from her partner.
Weiss had just managed to settle her mind and clear it of any illicit thoughts of her wolf when Ruby emerged from the bathroom in just a towel. A very, very short towel that wrapped tightly around her chest and just barely made it to the middle of her thigh. The amount of pale smooth skin that was now exposed to the Heiress caused her brain to lock down. Something very far down and deep in her wanted nothing more than to rip the towel away from the wolf and pin her to the wall, but her higher more controlled processing power that quickly switched on shut that side down just as quickly as it had started. "Ruby what are you doing?" She hissed at her wolf.
"I forgot my clothes." Ruby answered, she had watched as the Heiress eyes dilated slightly causing her stomach to flip and clench slight, she really like the way Weiss had been looking at her.
"Right well just change out here, I'll make my shower quick." Weiss shook her head before quickly grabbing her clothes and retreated into the bathroom, Ruby caught her muttering something about a very cold shower.
Before Ruby could question her partner Weiss had quickly gathered up her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. The wolf paused for a moment before shrugging figuring it was just Weiss being Weiss. Taking a deep relaxing breath Ruby was once again caught the scent that she couldn't quite put her finger on, it had lessened greatly but it was still lingering in the room. Though it was faint now it still made the wolf's heartbeat quicken and her tail twitch on its own.
Taking another deep breath Ruby tried to decipher what the scent was, it smelled just like Weiss only heavier, like as if it was the Heiress only not her usually scent but still her. The wolf shook her head as she started to get dressed thinking about what the scent could mean, the only time she had smelled something similar was when she was in the Den and…
Ruby's cheeks lite up with a deep blush. Now she remembered what the scent was and why it was causing her heart to react. While she hadn't had any desire to mate while during her time there, there had been others that had that desire and the scent was often prevalent. And the scent that was in the air was Weiss'.
Once she identified the smell something shifted inside the wolf. She could feel her heartbeat increase once again as her hairs began to rise slightly, her tail began to bush out and sway, her breathing became deep and erratic. She felt her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she tried to hold back a growl that had begun to grow in her throat. She hadn't noticed that she had begun to move towards the bed, the strongest source of the scent until her feet got tangled in her skirt that was only half way up sending the wolf to the floor with a thud.
"Oww." Ruby whined as she rubbed her now slightly sore bottom. Grumbling slightly the wolf pulled her skirt up around her hips and fastened in securely before shaking her head, the jolt of the fall had allowed her to reclaim her scenes. Making sure not to take a deep breath she quickly made her way over to the window and threw open the glass allowing fresh air into the room.
The cool fall air was very noticeable now, no longer was the warm humidity of the summer noticeable nor was the promise of a warm day. Take a deep breath of the air the wolf could smell the scents of the changing season, the crispness of the air carried the hints of the turning leafs, her ears twitched as she picked up the sounds of the birds getting ready to migrate or smaller animals prepping for the winter. Ruby couldn't help but let her tail sway happily as she leaned out the window, she loved fall; she loved the colors, the smells, the festivals… Oh the Harvest Festival would be soon!
"Ruby, don't lean out so far, you might fall out." Weiss chide as she came back into the room. When the crimson wolf turned around the Heiress couldn't help but smile slightly at the shinning expression in her eyes. Her wolf really was just too cute.
"I wouldn't fall that far." Ruby laughed as she bounced over to her partner, with her freshly showered the scents of vanilla and mint were much stronger, "You'd catch me with one of your glyphs."
Weiss raised a shapely eyebrow at that statement, "Oh I would, would I?" She eyed her wolf playfully.
Ruby nodded enthusiastically, "Yep, yep. You'd so catch me if I fell." As if to prove her point the wolf zipped back over to the window and started to lean out. A sharp whine came from below her feet making her look down, a black glyph appeared below her feet bucking in into the air and out the window. A small 'eep' escaped the wolf's lips but before she could fall more than two feet a white glyph caught her gently in mid air.
"Well I suppose it would look rather poor on myself if my leader did get herself injured under my watch." Weiss smiled at the window as the wolf glared at her.
"That wasn't what I had in mind." Ruby grumbled as she sat on the glyph pouting which Weiss found extremely cute, pouty wolf Ruby was almost too much for her.
Shaking her head the Heiress made as shooing motion with her hands, "Well move over, since you're out there already it will be quicker this way." Ruby did as she asked with a confused look. With a quick double check that she had her scroll and dust pouch Weiss stepped onto the ledge then onto glyph. Closing her eyes the Heiress focused on the glyph and made it descend to the ground.
"Oh cool!" Ruby cheered as they slowly made their way to the ground, "I didn't know you could do this with you semblance. That's awesome Weiss."
The Heiress didn't reply until they were on the ground, only then did she open her eyes and shook her head trying to clear the small pressure that had built behind her eyes. "It's not something I can do in combat so I don't do that often." She explained as the pressure disappeared, "It takes too much concentration and is not the real function of my family's semblance."
Ruby nodded as she looped her arm around Weiss' and began to walk, "What is the function of your semblance?"
"Well as you know my glyphs can act as platforms for me to base my attacks from or I can use them as to enhance my attacks. By using Dust in tandem with my semblance I can infuse my attacks with the Dust as well. I can also use them to enhance another person's attack and defense abilities as well." Weiss explained as they walked along.
"Wow, I knew you were pretty strong but with your semblance it's easy to see why it's hard to take you down in a fight." Ruby said in awe of her partner.
Weiss shook her head slightly, "I am not strong. By far I'm probably the weakest fighter on our team, if I'm going to win a fight I have to slowly chip away at my opponent and set myself up for the next attack or even the next five moves. I'm not like Yang who can just power through or Blake who can dodge around to the open side of the opponent or even you with your speed and skill."
Ruby frowned at the Heiress words, she didn't think of Weiss as weak far from it actually. "But you're able to bring Yang down and fight me and Blake into a stalemate for the most part, actually I've only ever seen Pyrrha beat you. I'd say that makes you far from weak."
Weiss couldn't help but shake her head at her wolf, of course the girl wouldn't see it like that, "Ruby while appreciate the gesture you're ignoring several things." Ruby went to open her mouth but Weiss cut over her, "For example, I can beat Yang because she's easy to read once her semblance kicks in, her mind runs in straight lines. Fighting Blake is along the same lines I just have to keep track of my open sides and be ready to summon a glyph to that side. And your fighting style while straight forward has many angles of attack and can be very unpredictable from time to time. The only person who can stand toe to toe with Pyrrha is Yang and that's just on a level of brute force."
Ruby considered the Heiress words before nodding, "You know you're really smart Weiss."
"Of course I am, I'm a Schnee." Weiss said flipping her hair over her shoulder with a smirk. "I have a name to take back." As they drifted back into silence Weiss watched as fellow students went about their day, she noted several Faunus students amongst them when something occurred in her mind, each of them only had one feature not two like the wolf currently clinging to her arm. She really hadn't put much thought into why Ruby had both ears and a tail, but now that she thought of it more she never had seen a Faunus with two features.
While they passed though one of the deserted gardens Weiss paused making Ruby stop short, "Weiss?" The wolf asked up at her partner.
"Ruby I have a question for you." Weiss started as she pulled them over to a stone bench glancing about to make sure they truly were alone.
"Okay?" Ruby asked as she sat down wondering what the Heiress wanted to know.
"I don't really know how to properly ask this without seeming insensitive so please don't take it as me being as such," Weiss started making the wolf cock her head to the side, "Why do you have a tail?" Ruby blinked several times before frowning, Weiss began to think she had crossed a line and quickly explained, "What I mean is every other Faunus I've seen only has one set of Faunus features, either a tail, ears, horns or others but never a set like you have. I was just wondering why that is."
"Oh." Ruby nodded in understanding, "Well you're right that it's not normal for Faunus to have two or more features of their animal nature but the answer is kinda disappointing." The wolf paused and Weiss nodded for her to continue, "Mom told me that it must be a genetic mutation that caused it. Normally wolves only have ears but there are a few that have tails instead. Either one of my parents had a tail or one of their ancestors did and I inherited both ears and tail. Since I'll probably never meet my birth parents I'll probably never know the full truth."
Weiss nodded, genetics were a weird thing from time to time, and hell her family was poster child for selective breeding. It made since that Faunus genetics would be much more complex than normal humans with both animal and human DNA incorporated, it also made since that it would be easy for a mutation to occur in them as well. "I wouldn't say it's a disappointing answer," Weiss smiled at her wolf. "Though I feel slightly foolish that I didn't think of it before." Ruby cocked her head to the side in confusion, "Ruby I've told you my family is obsessed with genetics. I've learned all there is about DNA and how it changes and mutates over time through the incorporation of new genes into the line. I should have expected that was the answer before I asked."
Ruby shrugged, "Well it's not really common for a Faunus to have two features, I think it's somewhere below two percent of the population though I'd check with Blake or Velvet to be sure." A small grin broke across the wolf's face, "Though could you picture Blake with a long black tail? Or Velvet with a fluffy white one?"
"That would be highly amusing, though Yang might have several bad puns is Blake did." Weiss sighed as she shook her head.
"Yeah but it would be super cute." Ruby gave a small 'squee' as her own tail swished back and forth happily.
"Maybe thought I'd still find you much cuter." Weiss smirked down at the crimson girl as her face lite up with blush. "I've always been more a dog person myself, though I guess I'll have to change that to wolf." The blush on Ruby's cheeks deepened.
"Weiiiissss." Ruby whined slightly as she hid her face in the Heiress shoulder.
Weiss heart flipped as she pulled her cute crimson wolf closer threading her fingers through her soft silky hair. She still couldn't pinpoint when she had become so affectionate towards Ruby, but she didn't quite care. She noticed that Ruby's tail continued to swish back and forth behind her as her wolf took a few deep breaths.
When Ruby pulled back slightly the Heiress was greeted by the gleam of silver, "I may be cute but you're beautiful." Ruby whispered as she looked up into ice blue eyes. Weiss now felt heat creep across her own face as she continued to look into the sterling silver orbs before her. "You're the most beautiful person I've ever met."
Now Weiss had to look away as her face burned with blush, she had been told she was beautiful before but it had always seemed and empty compliment. But the sincerity in Ruby's voice made the words extremely personal. "Yes, well." Weiss coughed and tried to control her blush, "Thank you Ruby." She glanced back down at the wolf only to have her lips pressed against the wolf's. Her eyes fluttered shut as Ruby wrapped her arms around her neck deepening the kiss.
Getting lost in the kiss Weiss ran her tongue across the younger girl's lips asking for entrance, which she gave readily. Slipping her tongue into Ruby's mouth the Heiress could taste the hints of strawberries and cherries. The sweet tastes made her moan slightly as she puled Ruby closer. She could feel the wolf tighten her grip on the back of her jacket as the wolf's tongue intertwined with her own.
A small grumble broke though the fog breaking them apart, both girls looked down as blush erupted across Ruby's face. Again a small grumble came through the air making Ruby blush harder as she once again buried her face though this time in to the Heiress' chest. She was so embarrassed, how could her stomach betray her like that? And now of all times?
Weiss let out a small chuckle as she shook her head, "Well I guess that's our sign that it's time fore breakfast." Ruby nodded though still not look her in the eye. "Well come on then, let's go get breakfast then we can go see Pyrrha."
Qrow yawned as he stood in the elevator as it climbed towards Ozpin's office. He was still a bit annoyed that Yang had just dumped in some cheap ass roach motel to sleep one off but it was better than the gutter, which is where Summer or Raven would have left him back in the day. He actually suspected that the only reason Yang had left him in a motel was because she was with her partner last night and it probably wouldn't have looked too good if she had just left her own uncle in a gutter in Vale. He should probably thank the black haired Faunus next time.
He laughed to himself when he remembered the look on the girl's face when he pegged her as a Faunus in ten seconds after meeting her, did she really think a small black bow would hide that from him? He was a full fledge Huntsman who specialized in recon and intelligence and he had practically helped raise a wolf. It would take a lot more than what she could do now to pull one over on him. Though she did seem to have potential, maybe if whatever Oz was going to send him on didn't take a whole lot of time he could come back and give the girl a full evaluation of her skills.
Taking out his flask he took a long drink just as the elevator doors opened revealing the headmasters office. Glynda was glaring at him, her green eyes flashing with annoyance as she spotted his flask. Ozpin just shook his head from behind his desk.
"Really couldn't even wait till after the meeting to get loaded?" Glynda growled as he walking into the office, "Where is you're sense of duty?"
"I sold it for some hooch in Vacuo a few years ago, or was it in that brothel in Mistrial?" Qrow replied with a shrug as he smirked at her.
Glynda's face contorted into a deep scowl as she continued to glare at him her hand straying towards her crop. Before she could draw her weapon Ozpin decided it was time to intercede. "Qrow thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Well it's not all the time I get a request of you directly anymore, so I figured it would be best if I showed up." Qrow shrugged again.
"Yes well I figured it would be best if we kept our contact to a minimum unless needed other wise." Ozpin replied, "Though we will have to wait until James-"
"What's old Steelcock got to do with this?" Qrow questioned harshly, "Is he going to finally get up off his ass and do something about Mantel?"
Ozpin sighed; he really should have avoided mentioning Ironwood until Qrow was at least somewhat sober. The man placed many of his grievances with the general. "I'm hoping to convince him to assist the people of Mantel before things deteriorate further, but that is not why I called you here."
"Steelcock won't do shit until it's too late," Qrow snorted. "Mantel will dissolved into civil war before the end of the month."
"We will deal with that if it comes to that." Ozpin sighed he knew Qrow was right. "But what I've called you here for is far more domestic." Pulling open a draw he withdrew Raven's mask and set it on the desk facing Qrow.
"Where the in the name of Grimm did you get that?" Qrow seethed as he stared at the mask.
Ozpin sighed, "Raven stopped by a few days ago." Qrow eyes narrowed dangerously. "I need you to find her before she does something reckless."
A/N: And we're back! First a large Thank You to everyone for understanding that I had to take care of real life first, that meant a lot with what was going on. I won't go into detail but it was very stressful and your thought were appreciated, life now is... I suppose weird is the most fitting word, again I'm not going into detail. Just know that until about the middle of August I have to play my life by ear and just go with what happens, if it's going to effect a chapter I'll be sure to tell you but I don't anticipate that but you never know so just please bare with with me. I promise I'll see this story to the end, it just may take me a bit longer than I planed.
Anyways, a bit of whiterose fluffy fun and more about on Qrow. Next week we're staying with our rose pair and more about the Harvest Festival.
With that: I can never express my thanks enough, come on in and let's chat, and may you find a reason to smile.